The Life of Bhikkhuni Khema the Great Arahant Introduction to Arahan Bikkhuni Kh

The Life of Bhikkhuni Khema the Great Arahant
Introduction to Arahan Bikkhuni Khema
This is the artwork depicting Arahan Bikkhuni Khema, one of the Buddha’s chief female disciples. She was known for her extreme beauty and was proud of her appearance. Khema was born in Sagala City, part of the Kingdom of Madhu, which is now known as Sialkot in Punjab, Pakistan. She was the daughter of the king and queen of Madhu.
Sagala City was also the birthplace of another princess, Kapilani, who was the wife of Arahan Mahakassapa. The city of Sagala is mentioned in various ancient texts and was ruled by King Melinda, who issued coins with his own image.
Khema eventually moved to the Kingdom of Magadha, where she married King Bimbisara and became his chief consort. Despite her status, she was initially reluctant to visit the Buddha and listen to his teachings because she feared he would criticize her beauty.
Queen Kema’s Visit to Veluvana Monastery
King Bimbisara devised a plan to encourage Khema to visit the Buddha. He had a song composed and performed for her, which made her curious about the beauty of Veluvana Monastery. With the king’s permission, Khema visited the monastery while the Buddha was away on his alms rounds.
As Khema explored the monastery, she approached the Buddha’s kuti (room) and peered through the window. Unbeknownst to her, the Buddha was aware of her presence and used his psychic power to transform two beautiful fairies into elderly women. This revelation made Keima realize the impermanence of beauty and the truth of the Buddha’s teachings.
Enlightenment and Ordination
Having understood the reality of the body and her mistaken perception of the Buddha, Khema decided to become a nun. She apologized to the Buddha for her previous misunderstanding and shared the story with King Bimbisara. The king was delighted and gave his permission for Khema to ordain as a bhikkuni.
On the 15th day of her ordination, Khema observed the nature of a lamp’s flame and contemplated its impermanence. She applied this insight to all conditioned phenomena and developed the sixth supernormal power.
Khema’s Influence
Queen Khema’s wisdom and understanding of the Buddha’s teachings gained recognition beyond the monastery. King Kosala visited Soket City and sought a wise person to listen to. He was directed to Arahan Bikkhuni Khema, who answered his questions about the Buddha’s existence.
The king was impressed with Khema’s answers and returned to the Buddha to share the incident. The Buddha approved Khema’s responses, further establishing her reputation for wisdom and understanding.
The Chief Female Disciple of Gautama Buddha
In this passage, the Buddha praises the Arahant Khema, who is renowned for her wisdom among the bhikkhunis (female monastic disciples). The Buddha appoints her as the chief female disciple, recognizing her exceptional qualities. This artwork by King Koshala depicts Khema. If you want to learn more about her, you can read “The Legend of Buddhist Saints: The Long Discourses of the Buddha” and “The Great Causes Discourse” in the Samyutta Nikaya, as well as the Dhammapada (Verse 403).
Another occasion mentioned is when the Buddha was residing at Gijjakuta Hill. Soccer, the king of devas (gods), came with his followers to have a discussion on the Dhamma. At that moment, Keema appeared in the sky using her psychic and supernormal powers. She paid respect to the Buddha from afar and then left. The king of devas asked who she was, and the Buddha replied that she is one of his pre-eminent disciples, named Keema. He described her as matchless in wisdom among the bhikkhunis and as someone who knows how to distinguish the right way from the wrong way. The Buddha then uttered verse 400d, which conveys the meaning of calling a wise Brahmana who is knowledgeable and has attained the highest state.
This story briefly introduces the chief female disciple of Gautama Buddha, who was highly regarded for her wisdom among the bhikkhunis. In the next video, we will discuss Arahant bhikkhuni Uppalawana, the second chief female disciple of Gautama Buddha and her proficiency in psychic powers among the bhikkhunis.